In August of 2010, Scott Klooster and Ben Threatt traveled to Bolivia to train pastors and distribute Outline Bible Resources^"!. Bolivian pastors and church leaders in the cities of La Paz, Cochabamba and Sucre were provided much needed teaching and preaching resources most of whom lacked such materials. 

La Paz, Bolivia On the top of the world.

A report from Scott Klooster, LMW Missionary   

Ben Threatt and I left the US for Bolivia on August 4, 2010. We arrived in La Paz about 5:30 am after spending about 24 hours in airplanes and airports, and were met by our friend, missionary Enoel Suarez. We drove to our hotel about a half hour away, splashed some water on our faces, caught our breath and proceeded to the first workshop which began at 9:00 am.

La Paz, Bolivia is the highest airport in the world, situated on a high plateau in the Andes mountains, at an elevation of 13,300 ft. We quickly discovered that the air is extremely thin, and we frequently found ourselves "catching our breath" during the workshops. The nationals found good humor in our mild   altitude sickness, and were kind enough to give us a local tea which seemed to cure our symptoms.

Even though we had many "inconveniences" however, the workshops were a HUGE success. Over 50 pastors and national church leaders were trained in La Paz alone, and nearly every one of them committed to training 10 more people within the following 30 days of the workshop!

Here is an excerpt from an email that I received shortly after the training: I appreciate a lot to participate the second time with you in the workshop. There is a real need to understand how to read and make a good interpretation of the Bible for preaching more accurately the gospel of Jesus Christ. Actually I started a class with 4 young people teaching them how to use the material. And as you said in your previous letter. I will be interested in be involved in this kind of ministry, I am going to Beni the next week to planning the next year. Pray for me. I want to continue the training with the Pastors there in a post graduating program. God may bless you brother
In Jesus Christ service
Daniel Ortiz 

Thanks to the generous contributions from Kregel Publishing (below) each of the church leaders trained in all three cities received  one copy each of:

• Biblia de Bosquejos y Sermones - Marcos (POSB - Mark) 
• Biblia de Bosquejos y Sermones - Tomo 10 (POSB - 1 & 2 Thessalonians, 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon) 
• Manual Personal Del Obrero Cristiano (What the Bible Says to the Minister)
• Oración (Prayer)

The secret battle of the underground church.

One of the participants in one of our seminars was a missionary to a foreign country, that will remain unnamed, where there is no freedom to proclaim the Word of God legally, and was taking our materials back to that nation to train those in the underground church. Please take a moment to pray for our brothers and sisters on the front lines of the Gospel, and may we never take for granted our own freedom of worship if we are in a country that allows it.

 

Cochabamba and Sucre 

As we departed from the city of La Paz, we flew into the city of Cochabamba where the second workshop of fifty pastors and church leeaders was held. Cochabamba is also nestled high in the Andes, and from our venue we could see several mountian fires burning in the hills.

The people of these high cities are very strong, loving and warm. We were gifted with knit hats at the end of the workshop, and many of the trainees shed tears of gratitude for the training and resources. We couldn't have done it without the help of Dr. Daniel Gill, our volunteer translator.

From the high city of Cochabamba we flew on to the treacherous airport in Sucre. The steady nerves off the pilot dropped us from the mountain peak on to a very short runway that is edged by a huge ravine at the end. If the pilot had failed, we would have plunged down the mountain. Upon landing we were met by Dr. Phil Trane, who informed us that on several occasions he had been in landings where the airplane tire had come "within mere meters of the ravine." Glad to hear that after we landed.

The workshops in Sucre went excellent. We had some Seminary students and their professor attend, as well as many pastors and church leaders. In the end, we gave away every book that we had, and about 98% of the attendees committed to the 10/30 challenge to share the training with at least 10 other people in 30 days!

The Editorial Portavoz Partnership

I thank God for the partnership between Editorial Portavoz in Grand Rapids, MI and Leadership Ministries Worldwide. Jerry Kregel at Portavoz made arrangements to supply many of the needed books. It was a generous donation, and we praise God for this long-standing partnership. Please pray for Editorial Portavoz as they continue to translate and publish Biblia de Bosquejos y Sermones (the Spanish Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible).

Also, please pray for Enoel Suarez, Dr. Gill, and Dr. Trane, as they continue their ministry in Bolivia. 

Click here to make a donation online.

To learn more about Outline Bible Workshops , click  here .

To learn more about The 10/30 Challenge , click  here .

If you would like information about Ways to Contribute , click here .